Page 36 - MDSL Final

MARITIME DOCTRINE OF SRI LANKA
Leadership

“Duty is the great business of a sea officer; all private
considerations must give way to it, however painful
it may be.”

Admiral Lord Nelson

Military leadership is the projection of personality and character to get
subordinates to do what is required of them and to engender within
them the confidence that breeds initiative and the acceptance of risk
and responsibility. Born leaders are rare, but leadership potential can
be developed by training, experience, study of the methods of great
leaders in the past and a sound knowledge of the military profession.
Through these, individuals develop their own style of leadership and will
necessarily lead in exactly the same way.

The exercise of leadership at sea reflects the unique nature of the
environment. The focus at sea is on the effort of the entire crew to
place the combat instrument, which is the ship, into the control of the
directing mind of the commander. No shell is fired and no missile can be
launched without specific command direction. With very few exceptions
this applies even in the most intense of combat situations and it is never
widely delegated. By contrast, the infantry commander must lead their
soldiers as individuals to make their singular contributions to the combat
effort in accordance with their intent. Likewise the air commander must
rely on each of their pilots to complete the mission allocated. It is a fair
generalisation to say that the aim of leadership at sea is the moulding
of the ship’s company and their ship as a fighting instrument, while on
land and in the air leadership is focused on the individual as a fighting
instrument. Notwithstanding the push towards greater automation,
there remain many physically demanding activities in seagoing units.

Leadership starts with self-discipline. It is a continuous process
throughout training and daily life. Leaders promote this amongst their
subordinates by: decisive action; clear direction and guidance; precept

18 To Nurture a Stable Environment at Sea